Well designed practical things

[Zooeyzebra]

What are you favourite high quality but practical things?

My husband doesn’t need or want anything, but he loves and gets great joy out of using well thought out high quality items.

We have 10 year old kitchen scissors and he still mentions how much he like them every time he uses them.

A few years ago I got him a really good set of screwdrivers. He loves them too.

Also a really good long ruler. A comfy pen that writes well. A hose trigger that fits comfortably. Just random stuff really.

Anything well designed for its purpose if you see what I mean.

so what are your favourite well designed practical items, that you love using?

What a bloody brilliant thread thanks OP, it's made me smile (widely)

@SamBeckett nitecore

Like @oobedobe ugg slippers are fantastic. I got some from their online outlet 5 years ago. I think I've got another year with them. Still loads of tread but the inside sole has worn away to virtually nothing (like not much fur left). I've washed them in the washing machine and worn them from the minute I get home and still they are going. Cost me £30 back then.

https://www.ugg.com/uk/outlet/

Prompted by a thread on the gardening board, I told DH I'd like a hori hori this year. I dont think he got it from Niwaki though.

Previous years he's delighted me with good telescopic loppers and a telescopic pruning whotsit. Hours of happy 'mindful destruction' in the garden!

I recommend XTAR.

Ikea's expensive-range peeler. So good! Also their expensive-range chef knife: best 30 pounds ever, it's still going 10 years later. I can't believe it for the price. Also smartwool socks, and the thick merino hiking socks from Cotswolds, le fuckin creuset on sale, medium pot with lid, best thing ever, and, ah, my macbook air that is still going 9 years on. lands end down coats on sale. yay for stuff you can keep forever!

Me and my dad have a whole genre of celebration for things that are designed to do their job well. when it's Just a Good Item. Vive la good items! ooh also cotswolds' 8 pound one-cup thermos flasks. Do. not. leak. Last ages, can buy new gaskets if you lose them, peak dad-friendliness

uggs are fuckin amazing. i had my last uggs for 9 years. got to get the proper ones, made in aus. will set you back about 100 AUD, 70 gbp.

Can you tell me about the sizing? I have wide feet.

@coodawoodashooda ugg sizing is special. You've got to get them quite small on you initially as they expand a lot as your feet compress the sheepskin. They initially need to feel tight but not crazy tight, and you need to be able to get them on obviously. But definitely don't get what feels like the 'right' fit initially as they will expand a lot. I have a wide toe box and they're great for that, and I think they'd be great for wide feet in general as the sole is I think really wide. The compression over time thing means that they can adapt a bit to your foot width too. I recommend buying in a shop for these reasons.

@SamBeckett Fenix torches are brilliant, although the one I have takes one AAA, which lasts forever.

@coodawoodashooda

uggs are great for wide feet, mine are really wide and have grown over the years. Of my old shoes my Uggs are the only ones that still fit.

@sashh ( waves 😄) that looks good , I dont need a radio when I am trekking around the black holes that is our work sites but it would be useful at home when the fuses blow for the umpteenth time. It's added to my wish list now.

Ooh more recommendations thank you , @Papyrophile , @Para4u & @Moonshine5 I will have a look at all of them brands.

Thank you

@SamBeckett I know a traffic officer that's what he has in his kit bag.

Kit bag meaning actual kit bag and nothing dodgy lol

This is a brilliant thread!

I have ordered DH some Peugeot salt and pepper shakers and am now on the hunt for a really good cooking knife. I have been looking at Japanese ones but I'm a bit overwhelmed by choice and my ignorance. Does any one have any suggestions for a good option that will be fairly multi-purpose? I have a budget of around £50. I saw a couple up-thread from Lakeland which looked good but wasn't sure what to go for.

@LovelyAndAmazing

A friend was in Japan in September and got a knife for me, it cost £80 but OMG it is so sharp. It's one of these in the pic, before he went we measured my hand and my existing cook's knife.

Link tot he shop https://tokuzoknives.com/en/collections/new_item Mr Ogawa apparently speaks good English.

I'm not sure if it would be out of your price bracket but there is a lot of information on the website.

That's exactly why I got it.

What a great thread. I am going to sit down with a cuppa later and make LOTS of notes. We are the same - we take an enormous amount of pleasure from well made, everyday items. We're only doing stockings this year for each other (as don't need stuff and want to save £££) but after reading this list... Our kids are not the same at the moment: they love stuff! 😃

@sashh Thanks so much for the link - will be very useful!

This one.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Lock-Lift-Opener-Green/dp/B00421ATQS

@LovelyAndAmazing

I was telling him about this thread, he is hoping to go back next year so can do some shopping for you. I think he was only half joking.

Anyone know of a good quality axe for chopping wood for the wood burner?